.

.

Interview with
AIDAN, CARSON and NOLAN
from
DAYSORMAY

(24th October 2021)

Interview by Dave Bruce

.

Photo credit // Zuleyma Prado

.

How did the band come together? Is there someone who is a “driving force”, or do you all make decisions together?
Aidan: We met when we were about 7. Our parents kind of knew each other and we got put in the same little kid skiing group, so we would see each other every weekend. I don’t remember exactly but it just kind of worked out that we were all getting into music around the same time, and it just went from there.

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
Aidan: When people ask I just say Alternative or like Alt-Pop, something as vague as possible. I don’t want people to have any preconceptions before they listen, I’d rather leave it open and let them have a pure interaction with it. I think honesty/vulnerability is always going to resonate with people, people can tell when you’re faking it and when you’re not. So I just don’t fake anything.
Nolan: Very tough question honestly. We always just say alternative because it’s a very broad term and we don’t really like putting a cap on what kind of music we can make. If I could guess why people resonate with our music it might be because we like to make music that you can rage to but if you want to dive deeper into the meaning or lyrics, you can.

.

.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
Aidan: Kanye doing ‘All Day’ at the Brit Awards in 2015. Probably the most inspired I’ve ever been from a youtube video.
Carson: Robert Fripp playing Frippertronics on live TV. It’s just so beautiful and so timeless.
Nolan: Stromae’s performance for Racine Carée at the Bell Centre in Montreal made a massive impression on me in 2015 (the youtube video. i wish i was there). Unbelievable, musically and visually.

Your new Album “Daysormay” has just been released! Describe its origin and evolution.
Aidan: Yeah! Our last EP (Talk Peace to a Wolf) came out in 2016, so it’s been a long time coming. When we finished that last EP, we tried to jump right into writing this album but trying to figure where to take it next was such a challenge. So much happened on the way to this point. During the process we met our manager and agents, graduated high school, toured Canada, the USA, and Europe a few times, had members leave, and wrote probably like 200 bad songs. It was like four brutal years of trying to figure out what to do next and then trying to learn how to execute those ideas. Looking back now I realize we were basically learning in public, trying, failing, and getting back up from it, but all the while posting it for people to see. So it feels really good to finally wrap up that period of our lives and move to the next chapter.

.

.

Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
Aidan: No tours in the plans at the moment, but we are doing one-off shows here and there to get back into playing live again. Right now we’re focusing on telling this album’s story, so they can expect a lot more behind-the-scenes content on the way.

How has COVID affected you to date? What have you introduced to balance the losses from missed events?
Aidan: We actually moved in together a couple months before everything locked down here, so we actually kind of lucked out. The lockdown got us into live-streaming, we started just doing instagram lives, but we moved into a bigger setup on twitch and were streaming regularly for a while. Now that the album’s done we’ll be getting back into that.
Nolan: We’ve pretty much just had to be online more which has its ups and downs but overall I’m really happy with how it’s brought us closer to our fans. This entire album roll out has been done throughout the pandemic so it’s been amazing having this little community online that we’ve developed.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
Aidan: I’d love to just sit in at Kanye’s Sunday Service, whether we were playing or not, just to be there.
Carson: I might want to play with pino palladino or yussef dayes who are both legends at their instrument and I feel like so much could be learned about playing from them.
Nolan: I don’t know maybe Paul McCartney or someone legendary like that. I don’t really have a good reason why, I just think it’s cool how he’s still such a relevant person, even with that recent album where he got a bunch of cool artists to reimagine McCartney III.

.

.

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist?
Aidan: I have long-term aspirations to be a creator. Music is the best outlet I’ve found so far, in terms of an emotional/spiritual catharsis, but I’ve always been into visual mediums, so I’m gonna lean into more and more. Making stuff is the only time I feel fulfilled, it’s the only way for me to feel satisfied with myself.
Carson: Music is my life really, so the goal is to continue it through all the way. First of all, to be able to create a community around what we are doing right now is a huge goal, but also to collaborate with other creators taking it beyond music into fashion or tech would be really close to my goal of being apart of something bigger than myself.
Nolan: Really just to be the best I can be and take it as far as possible.

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
Aidan: That it’s live. Anything can happen, and it’s real. I like that it’s just you and the audience in the room, away from the rest of the world outside, feels safe. A career highlight so far is probably the run of shows we did opening for Tessa Violet in the US, every crowd brought it.
Carson: The absolute raw energy of loud music with lots of people is like nothing else.
Nolan: I think the best part is the human connection that a live performance gives is the best thing for me. It’s very cathartic. For me the career highlight has been going on tour with Tessa Violet in summer 2019. It was such a good pairing and all of her fans are the best. I can’t say there was a bad show on that tour.

.

.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:

Album –
Aidan: Yeezus.
Nolan: I can’t pick one but my favourite of 2020 is Pixel Bath by Jean Dawson and of 2021 so far is fishmonger by underscores.
Carson: Rage Against the Machine

Artist –
Aidan: Don’t have just one.
Nolan: Definitely can’t pick one
Carson: too many to name and i’m sure there will be more

Movie –
Aidan: I really liked the whole vibe of Tenet, but I don’t know if I have a favourite yet.
Nolan: Probably This is Spinal Tap. I only recently found out that most of it was improvised.
Carson: The Prestige, that movie just hits.

Place to visit –
Aidan: Portugal or Nicaragua.
Nolan: Toronto has a special place in my heart.
Carson: Iceland

.

.

Venue to play –
Aidan: I forget what it’s called but we played a basement club in Brighton for Great Escape Festival and it’s still my reference for planning out setlists. A sweaty rager.
Nolan: Maybe Voltage Lounge in Philadelphia
Carson: Voltage Lounge was such a rager and the room is great for sound.

Food –
Aidan: Shoutout bagels.
Nolan: I eat a lot of banh mi
Carson: Yogurt and berries, this is my everyday.

Drink –
Aidan: Water.
Nolan: Water, for real.
Carson: Sparkling water

Person in History – 
Aidan: Tesla.
Nolan: Can’t pick one
Carson:  Greta Thunberg (it is recent history but still very important)

Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) 
Aidan: I only have one and it’s not my favourite.
Nolan: I feel like I just need to get a huge back piece and have that be my only tattoo.
Carson: I just got the album name below my knee and that is my current favourite.

.

.

Follow DAYSORMAY
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

.

.

.

About DAYSORMAY

Nine years ago, three six-graders ignored all the other trappings of ascendant teenagers and dedicated themselves fully and feverishly to making music. Growing up in the serene town of Vernon, BC, daysormay not only mastered their songwriting and playing skills, but they also became production wunderkinds with the release of their EP, Talk Peace To A Wolf. Now 21 years old, in Vancouver, with a full album in their arsenal, the members of daysormay (the English phonetic of the French “désormais” meaning “from now on”) have the wind at their backs with no intentions of slowing down. With influences like Phoenix, Glass Animals and Portugal. The Man., singer Aidan Andrews and twin brothers/rhythm section Carson and Nolan Bassett are carving out a unique space in modern alternative music. 

In their new album, Just Existing, audiences will hear how the band has continued to challenge their craft by incorporating pulsing drums, enchanting synths and guitars, unforgettable melodies and sharp-witted lyrics, demonstrating how there are no limits to their sound. Swerving between studio and at-home sessions, this musical collective have been working alongside the likes of Steve Bays (Diplo, Hot Hot Heat, Fitz and The Tantrums). Just Existing is a collection of snapshots from their lives, the growth, trials and tribulations and raw journal excerpts from their life, as they check in with each other after a turbulent few years. In true daysormay style, their authenticity sees them making music not only they love, but as a scrapbook of sounds and influences, with prominent drums, euphoric and emotional melodies and a whirlpool of dynamics brushed in their vibrancy and artistic passion. 

daysormay attack each new live show with the relentless energy of a band on the verge. Their history of stunning audiences is extensive, from at home in Canada, to headline shows in Europe, including The Reeperbahn Festival (Germany), The Great Escape (England), Bumbershoot (Seattle), as well as support slots on stages with Cold War Kids, Tessa Violet, Peach Pit, and Walk Off The Earth. 

.

.

AMNPLIFY – DB